Ideas for Homemade Egg Incubators

You don't need to have all the resources you would see in a science class or a farm to create a suitable incubator for eggs. You might already have suitable items to make a serviceable incubator lying around your house. Do a little research about your eggs first so you can make an appropriately sized and heated incubator.

  1. Placement

    • Placement of the incubator box is important to ensure the egg actually hatches. Place it on a flat, unmovable surface away from any windows or drafty areas. Children and animals pose a threat to the incubator, so set it somewhere out of their reach. Avoid crowded areas that have high traffic. For example, if you have a crowded counter where you are constantly setting and retrieving items, do not set the incubator there. It is far too easy to accidentally crush or jar the incubator when you have it taking up space in a busy area. The location should be near an electrical outlet as well.

    Housing

    • Eggs are delicate, so you need an incubator that both protects and insulates the eggs. Your incubator can be a simple shoebox filled with cloth or something more complex, such as a clear acrylic box. The incubator box should have no holes where drafts can enter. Fill the incubator with soft material or a used egg carton to cradle the eggs. Do not simply set the eggs in the bottom of the box, or they may slide around and crack. Whatever container you choose should have a lid.

    Heating

    • There are many ways you can heat your incubator, but the most common solution is a light bulb that will keep the temperature in the incubator stable. The necessary temperature will vary depending on the type of eggs you put in the incubator. Attach a light bulb to an industrial light extension (an extension cord with a light socket on the end). Drill a hole through the lid of the incubator large enough to barely accommodate the light socket. Press the light socket into the hole with the socket facing down toward the eggs and insert a light bulb in the socket. Tape the cord in place so the light bulb does not slip down in the box to touch the eggs. Plug it in.

    Thermometer

    • Place a small thermometer in the incubator to monitor the temperature. If the incubator gets too hot or too cold, your eggs may fail to hatch. Simply set the thermometer next to the eggs so you get an accurate readout of the heat the eggs receive. Check the thermometer at least twice a day to ensure you are getting a consistent and appropriate temperature from your light bulb. If the incubator is too cold, replace the light bulb with one that is more intense, or a less intense bulb if the incubator is too hot. Avoid touching the thermometer or moving it when you check the temperature. Interacting with the thermometer can give you an inaccurate reading.